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Your RSA Food Guide: San Francisco’s Essential Restaurants

2 years ago

Looking for some food near the Moscone Center? From cheap eats to high end, we’ve compiled a list of the best eats around downtown San Francisco.
Read More >>

ZERO ZERO

Zero Zero serves the ultimate comfort food done to perfection, in form of classic wood-fired pizza pies. The easy-to-please menu and a stellar wine list makes this restaurant a top choice for larger groups, and make sure to check out the impressive view of the city from the bar.

This Market Street staple is your local farmer’s market meets traditional Himalayan food. Recommended dishes include the Nepalese Meat Dumplings and the Gorkha chicken curry combo. The best part? Combos will cost around $10, making this one of your go-to cheap eats of San Francisco.

A restaurant with a unique concept situated in the heart of SFMOMA, conveniently across the street from Moscone. This is where you go to impress your guests, while you enjoy tastefully recreated dishes by high-profile chefs, including Thomas Keller and Anthony Myint. Reserve your spot for lunch or dinner and prepare to be blown away.

This downtown lunchtime favorite features a menu filled with the classics, all under $10. Among the selection of delicious sandwiches, the recommended one is the egg salad and corned beef sandwiches. While there is no seating, the gorgeous Yerba Buena gardens is just a few blocks away, perfect for your RSA-lunch-break dose of fresh air.

Since opening, Mister Jiu’s has become one of the top contemporary Chinese food spots in Chinatown, offering an impressive five-course (banquet style) menu. Perfect for large groups in search of a good time with stellar food, get ready to have an epic feast of sizzling rice soup and smoked duck – among other modern classics.

The beginning of a new era: The Early Stage Expo at RSA Conference 2017

2 years ago

RSA Conference is taking innovation to the next level and, for the first time in the event’s history, it has established a showcase for startups: The Early Stage Expo (ESE). Through this new initiative, 40 newcomers from the US, Canada, Israel, the UK, and France are able to spread the word about what’s to come from the cybersecurity startup world. The ESE is a great spot for any investor who wants to be part of the next big thing in the industry as they have what’s next in security innovation concentrated in one room. Read More >>

When White Hawk Software received the exciting news of having met the criteria for the ESE, we began thinking about how to prepare for a large-scale event. Established companies frequently employ an entire marketing team to prepare for an expo. As RSA Conference brings together thousands of security professionals each year, we knew we would need to thoughtfully and strategically approach our preparation. How can one get ready with a lean startup team of 2-3 people, while doing the daily crunch and handling the flood of emails once the attendance has become public? Through the preparation process, we were appreciative of the conference team’s guidance and support. Taking care of the setup takes a large burden off our mind, and we can focus on letting the world know we are part of the largest cybersecurity expo.

7 Tips to Make Your RSA USA 2017 Experience Awesome

2 years ago

Each February, the security world comes together in the techiest city in the world for a packed week of seminars, keynotes, checking out the latest and greatest security technologies, and of course, lots of parties. If you’ve never been to the RSA Conference and are planning on going – you’re in for a wild ride Read More >>

Reserve a seat for the events you really want to attend

A new feature in 2017 is the ability to reserve your seat for many of the conferences’ events and sessions. Take the time to reserve your seat for anything you don’t want to miss – because it’s hard to know which sessions will fill up before you get there.

Make sure to get to the sessions you’ve registered for early, too. If you don’t get there at least 10 minutes prior to the start of the session, your seat may be given away.

While it’s important to make sure you hit the talks and parties you really want to make, make sure to give yourself a little leeway to change it up a bit if you hear about something else interesting going on. Browse the tracks and pick out your top choices, but make sure to leave some open time for yourself to rest, grab something to eat, or roam the exhibition halls to fill your backpack with free stuff!

Bring a backpack

Between datasheets, program flyers, and of course, all the free swag, you will not leave the conference empty handed, so bring something to carry it all in! And, while we’re on the subject, skip using the RSA bags at the conference. Conference attendees will get a bag of swag at registration, which is great; however, lots of people use the bags during the conference, and all it takes is one accidental bag switch to turn a great conference into someone’s personal hell. Better to use your own bag and save the RSA bag for when you get back home.

Make a list of security technologies and companies you want to check out, and write down their stand number

The Moscone Center is a beast of a building, and you can easily get lost in the huge exhibition halls where security companies from around the world come to showcase their solutions. Despite (or perhaps because of) its’ size, RSA is a great chance to have some face time with companies you’ve been intrigued by. Take the opportunity beforehand to map out the companies you’d like to speak with and maybe even write down the questions you’ve had about their products.

RSA is also a great time to try and meet your InfoSec heroes! Everyone from Bruce Schneier to Troy Hunt to Eric Schmidt (OK, not an InfoSec hero, but a hero nonetheless!) Don’t be surprised if you find yourself in conversation with the InfoSec elite.

Test your InfoSec skills at RSAC’s Sandbox

The RSA Conference offers hands-on, interactive activities in their Sandbox on Wednesday and Thursday (February 15th and 16th). It’s a great way to learn about new technologies as well as growing threats and test your own preparedness.

The Sandbox, an event within the wider RSAC event, opens with a craft beer tasting, which may be enough to get some of you interested! Get the info on the CyBEER Ops event here, and find out more about the Sandbox here.

Each day at the RSA Conference is super packed, and you may find yourself crashing in your hotel room far earlier than expected. But if you do end up desiring a bit of nightlife, you won’t be disappointed. Be sure to check out this list of soirees to find what you’re looking for. The RSA Conference offers several party events of its’ own, and security companies join together to throw some epic parties in the InfoSec community!

Lastly, but maybe most importantly – WEAR COMFY SHOES!

You may think your Italian shoes or six-inch heels will make a statement at the conference, but the only statement they’ll be making after a few hours of walking around Moscone is ‘MY POOR FEET’!! Do yourself a huge favor and wear shoes that won’t kill your feet. Especially if you’re looking to get away from Moscone for some San Francisco touring.

Our RSA Conference AppSec Picks for 2017

2 years ago

Whether it’s your first time or your fifteenth at the RSA Conference, settling on a schedule for the week can be a challenge in and of itself. RSA offers different sessions for their different tracks: Executive, Management, Technical, and Newcomer, and you can find those schedules here. Read More >>

But there are worthwhile talks in all tracks that are worth checking out. Here’s our list of the top 4 AppSec-themed sessions of each day of the conference. Clicking the link will take you to the sessions’ official RSA USA page, where you can read more about the session and register for your seat.

A recent study found that despite their distrust in companies to properly secure personal data, Americans frequently neglect to follow best practices when securing data themselves. Read More >>

The Pew Research Center found 28 percent of Americans are “not confident at all” that the federal government can keep their personal information safe and secure from unauthorized users, while 24% of social media users lack any confidence in these sites to protect their data.

“By contrast, just 12 percent of Americans (and 9 percent of social media users) have a very high level of confidence that these entities can keep their personal information safe and secure,” researchers said.

Your RSA Coffee Guide

2 years ago

In need of an espresso-booster? Look no further! When it comes to coffee in San Francisco, you're in for an absolute treat with some of the world's best coffee available at every corner. From Blue Bottle Coffee in Mint Plaza to Mazarine on Market Street, enjoy our guide for all of your coffee needs - all walking distance from RSA. Read More >>

Dubbed one of San Francisco’s finest coffee houses, this SF-based chain is a favorite of the locals. This is where you go for the freshest cup, as the coffee is roasted locally in Oakland, and each of the coffee blends are a combination of two to seven different beans. The menu offers all of the blends, including a unique decaf blend and specialty drinks. Recommended: the ultimate midday coffee pick-me-up comes in form of the mint-mojito iced coffee.

This internationally renowned coffee house, with locations scattered all over the Bay Area, New York, Los Angeles, and Tokyo, is known for serving one of the best cups of coffee anyone can get their hands on. You can find Blue Bottle’s SoMa cafe filled with baristas ready to help you start your day right with one of their premium dark blends along with a full breakfast and lunch menu.

If you’re in need of the ultimate wake-me-up to start your day, La Capra should be your go-to quick stop before heading to Moscone. La Capra is a cafe dedicated to espresso, with the main attraction being its’ famous Italian-inspired espresso along with a slice of toast. Highlights from the coffee menu include picks from an exceptional selection of unique single-origin pour-overs and drip coffee. And with a food menu including pastries from the SF-staple Neighbor Bakehouse and Starter Bakery, you really can’t go wrong.

50 Fremont Street, San Francisco, CA 94105

Avocado Toast at Mazarine

MAZARINE

Only a 5 minute walk from Moscone, it only makes sense for Mazarine to be on your radar. This cafe is perfect for midday breaks, sipping a cappuccino in their cozy, sunny outdoor space pretending you’re in Paris (with help from the cafe’s Parisian decor). This cafe is also loved by laptop-workers, as their large indoor area is complete with plenty of comfy spots and outlets. Mazarine offers a wide array of espressos and blends for you to craft your ideal drink. Recommended: nothing beats a good midday Nitro tea or coffee for that perfect balance of caffeine and fizz along with one of the delicious (and nutritious) avocado-toast on the go.

From drip coffee and espresso drinks to an international and impressive collection of teas, this coffee house is sure to serve your favorite (existing or new). An added bonus – this cafe serves beer and wine on tap and features some of SF’s best arepas and grain salads. Go on, grab a moment with a unique blend of tea (or a recommended beet mimosa) on their adorable patio.

986 Market Street, San Francisco, CA 94102

The Security Reading Room: The Best Information Security Books of 2016

2 years ago

There were a lot of good information security books that came out in 2016, and many that were not worth reading.
With that, here’s my list of the information security books stand out as the best, listed in no particular order. Read More >>

The Car Hacker’s Handbook: A Guide for the Penetration Tester – plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose. Lots of features combined with poor security make cars the next big avenue for hacking. Craig Smith shows everything the car manufacturers have done wrong, and what they need to do to make it right. But is Detroit listening?

Pinpoint: How GPS Is Changing Technology, Culture, and Our Minds – GPS is an absolute marvel, but it comes at a cost. Both from a cognitive and security perspective. People are driving into lakes and into snowdrifts, blindly trusting GPS. One of the shortest books around is that on GPS security. It simply does not exist. The Iranians for example have capitalized on this on numerous occasions and have launched GPS spoofing attacks against the US military.

RSAC 2017: Securing An Increasingly Insecure World

Ah, another year, another endless series of security incidents and growing threats to keep the IT security world on edge. (And gainfully employed—let's not forget that part.)
Read More >>

Ah, another year, another endless series of security incidents and growing threats to keep the IT security world on edge. (And gainfully employed—let’s not forget that part.)

As the InfoSec world converges on San Francisco for next week’s RSA Conference, there are plenty of topical themes attendees can expect will be filtered through the gauntlet of keynotes, sessions and workshops. And as in past years, those themes run the gamut, from large-scale data breaches and fast-growing threat categories to political hacking and the risks posed by new technologies.

Finding Solutions for Your Static Analysis Challenges

Have you ever scanned a project without finding any serious security results? Are you concerned that the tool may not be working optimally? Come and join us to discuss your most difficult static analysis questions. We can work through your problems together and see if there is a solution or work-around. Attendance is strictly limited to allow for a small group experience.